Selbach

An imaginary portrait of Selbach painted by the Dutch artist James Witt for King Charles II in the 1680s.

Selbach was a great Scottish king who ruled Dál Riata from 700 to 723, when he retired to become a monk. He is well recorded, and defeated Beli II, the king of Strathclyde, at Lorg Ecclet. He also fought Ainbcellach, his brother and contestant for the throne, at Finnglen in 719, and was victorious. However, then he was defeated by Dúnchad Bec (Duncan the Small, a ruler from Kintyre), another rival, the same year. Selbach died in 730, three years after fighting his son's great enemy Eochaid mac Echdach.